The city Police Commission has received 36 applications for Honolulu police chief, commission chairwoman Christine H. Camp said yesterday.

Last Friday was the deadline for applications to be postmarked.

Of the 36, more than half are from within the state and 14 are from within HPD ranks, she said.

Camp said she's pleased at the large number of applicants, and the fact that more than half are from Hawai'i.

The larger pool of candidates offers a "better opportunity for us to find a more qualified person," Camp said.

In the 2004 search for a chief, in which current Chief Boisse Correa was selected, the commission received 19 applications.

The commission earlier this year opted to not give Correa a contract extension and decided instead to look for a new chief.

Camp said at least eight of the applicants appear to not meet the minimum qualifications necessary to become chief. Those designated as not meeting minimum qualifications have 10 days to file a challenge with the city Department of Human Resources.

After weeding out those candidates who don't meet minimum qualifications, a consultant will work with the five-person community selection committee to come up with a list of three to five finalists whom it will recommend to the commission.

Commission members will then conduct interviews with the finalists and choose a new chief.

Camp declined to disclose the names of the 36 applicants, but said she expects the names of the finalists will be made public.

Bishop Museum chief executive Tim Johns is chairman of the selection committee.

The commission hopes to have a chief hired and sworn in by the end of the year.

Correa's last day is Aug. 27. Deputy Police Chief Paul Putzulu will serve as acting chief until a new chief is sworn in.

The job pays $136,236 plus $2,496 in "standard of conduct" pay.

At a Tuesday press conference on an unrelated matter, Correa declined to say who he'd like to see succeed him.

"We trust in the process," Correa said.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann said earlier this month that he is confident someone could be found within the department.